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Job Description
Description
Are you ready to make a positive difference in recruiting?
Would you like to be a member of a passionate and dedicated team of top-notch professionals?
Lead the Future of Public Sector Hiring in Palo Alto
The City of Palo Alto is looking for a senior-level recruitment professional to help drive innovation in hiring, mentor HR staff, and refine recruitment strategies to attract and retain top-tier talent.
This leadership role in the Human Resources Department offers an opportunity to shape citywide hiring initiatives, enhance candidate experience, and contribute to strategic workforce planning. If you’re a data-driven, forward-thinking HR professional with a strong background in public sector recruitment, this position offers the chance to make a lasting impact.
Why Palo Alto?
The City of Palo Alto is a progressive, cutting edge city that innovates in all areas of civic service and technology. Palo Alto is looking for a recruiting professional to bring that same level of innovation and service to the city's recruiting efforts.
We are looking for an experienced professional who can utilize data-driven strategies to provide more responsive and nimble hiring and onboarding while maintaining dedication to providing the city with the highest quality candidates.
As the "Birthplace of Silicon Valley," Palo Alto is home to 69,700 residents and nearly 100,000 jobs. Known for its leadership in technology, sustainability, and civic innovation, the city operates its own utilities and provides a full range of municipal services, including public safety, libraries, and a regional airport.
Palo Alto is recognized nationally for its high quality of life, top-ranked schools, and engaged community. The city holds a AAA bond rating and receives consistently high marks in resident satisfaction surveys. Major employers include Stanford University, VMware, Hewlett-Packard, and Tesla. All reinforcing the city’s reputation as a hub for excellence.
Why This Role?- Help Lead Recruitment- Oversee full-cycle hiring for key city positions, ensuring a seamless, effective process
- Mentor and Train - Develop HR Liaisons (Department Recruiters) and HR Recruiters, strengthen their recruitment expertise across departments
- Enhance Hiring Processes - Use data analytics to improve efficiency, identify trends, and refine strategies
- Expand Outreach Efforts - Strategically help increase candidate engagement through marketing and other recruitment initiatives
- Improve Candidate Experience - Foster transparency, accessibility, and engagement throughout the hiring process
- Move Forward Citywide Initiatives - Play a key role in helping move forward City Council-recommended improvements to recruitment operations
Are You Who We’re Looking For?
A seasoned HR professional with:- 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in human resources that includes a proven track record of strategic plan implementation
- At least 3 years of experience focused on recruitment
- A data-driven approach to recruitment, including experience analyzing hiring metrics to inform decision-making
- Public sector HR experience (NeoGov and union environments preferred)
- You have a strong passion for recruitment, and a clear understanding of the current talent landscape
- Skill in innovative uses of social media to increase visibility and strengthen employer branding to attract a diverse talent pool
- Strong leadership skills with a passion for supporting and growing others by delivering engaging training, developing teams, and inspiring enthusiasm
About the Human Resources Department
The HR Department is a strategic partner in workforce planning, employee relations, and organizational development.
Its core areas include:- Talent acquisition and workforce planning
- Employee engagement, training, and development
- Benefits administration and workplace safety
- Labor relations, compensation, and classification
Meet your future Human Resources Team HERE!
In FY24, Palo Alto managed 337 hires and reviewed over 12,000 applications. This role will contribute to expanding our reporting and analytics and strengthening the HR Liaison Program to improve hiring outcomes.
Benefits & Work Environment- Recruitment Team- You will work closely with the Senior Human Resources Administrator, who manages day-to-day operations as well as the Recruitment Division Manager and five other HR staff members.
- Hybrid Schedule - Ability to work remotely and onsite
- Professional Development - Tuition reimbursement, leadership training, and career growth opportunities
- Education Benefits - Potential enrollment for dependents in the Palo Alto Unified School District
(pilot program, subject to change) - Childcare Support - Up to $10,000 in childcare subsidies (pilot program, subject to change)
- Defined-Benefit Retirement Plan - Competitive pension benefits
Apply Now
Recruitment Timeline:
Minimum Qualifications Review: Ongoing
First Review of Applications: April 2 - posting may close at any time after this date
Interviews: First round interviews via MS Teams are expected to take place in mid-April, Second round interviews will be in person and expected to be in late April.
Desired start date: Early June
Don’t miss this opportunity to lead recruitment efforts in one of the most innovative cities in the nation.
If you’re ready to bring your expertise to a forward-thinking HR team, apply today!
Essential Duties
As a Senior Recruitment Administrator, you will:- Mentor and Train Human Resources Liaisons (Department Recruiters) and/or Human Resources Recruiters
- Assist in developing live dashboards and reviewing data to derive insights
- Oversee full-cycle recruitments for high-profile roles within the City
Designing and implementing recruitment initiatives to advance the existing Human Resources Liaison ProgramUtilizing our current systems and capabilities, create reporting and analytical dashboards that will enable our team to generate valuable insightsCoordinate and manage projectsPerform other duties of a similar nature and level
Format: Up to 2 days per week remote work / 3 days per week in office (every other Friday off on 9/80 shift)
For the full job description and application details, click here.
Minimum Qualifications
Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities, which would typically be acquired through:- Possession of a Bachelor's degree, preferably in Human Resources Management or related field,
- Five years of professional level Human Resources experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience to successfully perform the essential duties of the role
Supplemental Information
The Selection Process:- Candidates may be considered for the Human Resources Representative role based on qualifications, but priority will be given to the Senior Administrator role. This posting may fill more than one vacancy.
- Recruitment status notifications will be sent via email or text (please enroll in text alerts when applying).
- Updates can also be found on your governmentjobs.com account.
- Applicants will be screened throughout the posting period, and highly qualified candidates may be invited for interviews at any time after the posting closes.
- The selection process may involve a phone interview, questionnaire, panel interview, and final interviews with the hiring manager or their designee.
For technical issues while applying online, please contact NeoGov's Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627, available Monday to Friday from 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific Time.
We look forward to getting to know you better throughout this process! If you are excited to be part of this team, apply today or reach out to our Recruitment Team for more information about this opportunity. For general inquiries, please contact our Recruitment Team at recruit@cityofpaloalto.org or call 650-329-2376.
The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO). In compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), the City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both perspective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
For more details visit our Careers Page, by clicking HERE.
Learn more about our Compensation Plan HERE.
Closing Date/Time: 4/13/2025 11:59 PM Pacific -
ABOUT THE COMPANY
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City of Palo Alto
Show morePalo Alto is located about 35 miles south of San Francisco; and 14 miles north of San Jose. Palo Alto, known as the “Birthplace of Silicon Valley” and global center of technology and innovation, is the corporate headquarters for many world-class companies and research facilities such as VMWare, Hewlett-Packard, IDEO, Tesla, and Skype. Home to Stanford University and a top-ranked public school system, Palo Alto also features beautiful and historic residential neighborhoods, vibrant shopping and retail districts.
Palo Alto has a highly educated and culturally sophisticated citizenry that is actively engaged in making a difference both locally and globally. Unique among city organizations, Palo Alto operates a full-array of services including its own gas, electric, water, sewer, refuse and storm drainage provided at very competitive rates for its customers.
The birthplace of Silicon Valley, Palo Alto, is a community of approximately 68,000 residents and nearly 100,000 jobs. Located on the mid-Peninsula between San Francisco and San Jose, Palo Alto is recognized worldwide as a leader in cutting-edge technology, medicine, and green innovation. Many world-class businesses maintained or started offices here, including Amazon, Tesla, Hewlett Packard, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Rivian, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, SAP Ariba, Houzz, Varian Medical Systems, and VMware. Numerous start-ups are also at home in Palo Alto, arguably making it the startup capital of the world.
Stanford University is foundational to the history and prestige of Palo Alto, reflected in the community’s dedication to life-long learning. Stanford’s cultural and educational offerings are integral to the vibrancy and charm of Palo Alto, while the City’s exceptional K-12 school district ranks among the top public school systems in the country. With more than 50% of adult residents holding a graduate degree or higher, Palo Alto is frequently listed as one of the most educated cities in the nation.
Home to picturesque tree-lined streets, bike lanes, and historic buildings that reflect its California heritage, Palo Alto boasts a genuine sense of community and an active citizenry with strong environmental values. Beautiful neighborhoods are complemented by vibrant commercial corridors and a bustling economy with premium shopping and dining options. Excellent health care facilities, performing arts, and diverse recreational opportunities are just some of this incredibly desirable community’s cherished amenities.
Join an Award Winning Team
Palo Alto is an award-winning City recognized nationwide as innovative and well-managed. Palo Alto is one of a small number of California cities with a AAA bond rating. Recently, Palo Alto became one of the most livable cities in the U.S. by Livability.com. It's the only city to receive the Platinum Beacon Award in sustainability best practices by California’s Institute for Local Government.
We offer a variety of career paths that relate to building and improving communities. The City has fourteen departments employing 1,000 full-time staff. Police officers, fire fighters, paramedics, and building inspectors keep us safe. Engineers and public works staff build and re-build the physical infrastructure. City planners help envision and shape future community growth. Recreation, arts and library professionals enhance community life. Utilities provides electric, gas, water, sewer and other services. Internal services departments help manage, staff, and protect the City.
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